Tomosynthesis apparatus and method to operate a tomosynthesis apparatus

US8031834B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Jasmina Ludwig · Munich, DE
• Thomas Mertelmeier · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 6, 2009
• Grant date: Oct 4, 2011
• Expiry date: Nov 15, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H05G1/70
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A tomosynthesis apparatus has an x-ray source that generates an x-ray beam emanating from a focus, which is received by a flat panel detector. To set a tomosynthesis angle, the position of the central axis of the x-ray beam of the x-ray source is variable. A collimator diaphragm has a diaphragm aperture that limits the expansion of the x-ray beam at the location of the flat panel detector. The collimator diaphragm is arranged in the beam path between the focus and the flat panel detector. The shape and size of the diaphragm aperture are dynamically varied (adjusted) dependent on the changing tomosynthesis angle, such that the expansion of the x-ray beam at the location of the flat panel detector always essentially corresponds to the detector dimensions.